Match Report: Sunderland 1-0 Wigan Athletic

We hoped for a win, and for 48 minutes we looked like we would eventually walk over the line with a win. A first half where we were in total control having over 60% of the possession and creating chances left right and center. The problem, that has always been the case with use, none knew how to put the ball in the back of the net.

The other problem we seem to find, is that when we play well, something else seems to go wrong for us. Case in question, up step Jordi Gomez and his rash tackle. Replays will and do show, that Gomez's tackle was under control and the ball was won. Why Howard Webb reached for a red card I have no idea.

Before all that though Wigan had been the better team. Straight from the off we looked to get the ball down and attack the Sunderland defense. James McCarthy was the first to come close inside the first five minutes, the midfielder drove towards goal and went through unopposed. Yet the midfielders strike was blocked by the feet of Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet.

That would be the Sunderland keeper's first of a few good saves he would make during the course of the first half.

It would be Arouna Kone to go close next. Jean Beausejour's pin-point accurate cross, would find the Ivorian stiker unmarked at the back post. All he had to do was tap it towards goal, and he obliged willingly before Mignolet was there again to deny Wigan.

You had a feeling it wasn't going to be our day.

Sunderland would go close next. Sebastian Larsson's delivery from a free-kick saw the ball spin all the way round the defense past everyone, bar our Spanish defender. Ivan Ramis was there to hoof the ball clear off the line and save us going a goal behind.

Maybe it was going to be our day.

Yet with the last few minutes of the first half, James McCarthy would come close yet again. This time he would miss the mark. His strike would drift just inches wide of the top corner. A world class goal that would have been, had it gone in.

Yet with it 0-0 we went in at half time. That would only last for six minutes, as the whole game would turn on its head.

One lung, one tackle and there would be a red card. Jordi Gomez would go in 'studs up' on Danny Rose. That was how Howard Webb saw it, looking back now I think he may regret the decision. To say Gomez was on the floor, and that he won the ball would be an understatement.

That red card changed the whole game, and in the following three minutes Steven Fletcher would score the goal that would sink Wigan. James McClean's cross from on the right hand side, would be met by the head of Fletcher to score his fifth goal for Sunderland.

It looked like Sunderland would run away with it now, as Stephane Sessegnon was free to do what he wanted being the man free. He was pulling the strings, and stung Ali Al Habsi's gloves with a well struck shot, that could only be parried away by our keeper.

Yet within 15 minutes of going in front, Sunderland stopped creating and Wigan got back on the ball. Franco Di Santo came on to give us something extra up front, as we lost our man in the hole. It wouldn't do us any good, as Sunderland closed down the hatches and went into defense mode.

You could tell we were playing a team who had drawn four games on the trot. They wanted the win and were willing to hold out as we attacked them. That of course worked for them, as we were really unable to create a clear cut chance since losing Jordi Gomez.

The closest we came was a couple of shots that went wide and high of the mark.

So instead of coming away happy, we came away disappointed and with the feeling of yet more injustice from a game which we could have won. That result makes it three defeats on the bounce for Latics, but there are good things to take from the game. More of that to follow in the coming days.